Steamer-berth.



F. BENDIX. STEAMER BERTH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26, 1914. LMQJWW Patented De0.22,1914.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTO'LI'I'HO-I WASHINGTON D C P. BENDIX.

STEAMER BERTH.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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I (I! I THE NORRIS PETERS C0 F'HOTO'LITHCL. WASHINOmN, D. C.

FREDEBIGK BENDIX, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STEAMER-BERTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 11914.

Application filed February 26, 1914. Serial No. 822,233.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BENDIX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steamer-Berths, of which. the following is a specification.

My invention relates to berths especially adapted to be used upon steamers or vessels and having its parts so arranged that the body of the berth will remain approximately in a horizontal position notwithstanding the fact that the steamer may pitch or rock in any direction. The structure includes a double berth arranged one above the other and universally connected so that they remain in parallel relation. These berths are pivotally mounted, and the lowermost berth is provided with a weight which is adapted to hold the same approximately horizontal. A means is provided for positively connecting the berths with the floor, as at times it is desirable that the berths be fixed with relation to the floor of the vessel, especially so when the vessel is in smooth water or tied up at the dock.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the berth with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the berth. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a guide used in connection with the berth. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of said guide with parts in section. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a weight used upon the berth. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a plate used in conjunction with the berth.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

A stand 1 is fixed to the floor of'the vessel, and is provided at its upper end with an eye 2, and a yoke 3 is pivoted in the eye 2. Arms 4 are adjustably connected with the ends'of the yoke 3, said arms preferably being four in number.

A lower berth 5 is supported upon the upper ends of the arms 4. A weight 6 is carried by the arms 4 and hangs pendant within the stand 1. The corners of the lower berth 5 are cut away as at 7, and

socket members 8 are located in said cutaway portions. Rods 9 are provided at their lower ends with balls or knobs 10 which rest in the socket members 8. The rods 9 are provided at their upper ends with sockets 11. An upper berth 12 is located above the berth 5 and is cut away at its corner portion as at 13. Balls or knobs 14 are located in the cutaway portion 13 and rest in the sockets 11 at the upper ends of the rods 9. A bracket 15 is fixed to the wall of the vessel, and is provided at its upper end. with a cup 16. This cup is located directly under the center of the upper berth 12. An eye 17 is attached to the upper berth 12, and engages an eye 17' located in the cup 16 so that the upper berth 12 is pivotally supported upon the bracket 15.

From the above description it will be seen that as the vessel pitches or rocks in the direction of the lengths of the berths, the

weight 6 will hang vertical in the stand 1. and consequently, the lower berth 5 will be held approximately in a horizontal position notwithstanding the rocking or pitching of the vessel. Through the rods 9 the upper berth 12 is maintained in parallel relation to the lower berth 5. Means are provided for preventing the berths from swinging or moving sidewise. Both of the berths are provided with such means, and as these means are alike, a description of one will answer.

Each berth is provided upon its under side with eyes 18. A rod 19 is slidably mounted in the eyes and projects beyond the end of the berth. The projecting end of the rod is connected with a bar 20, and rollers 21 are journaled to the bar. A guide 22 is attached to the wall of the vessel at the ends of the berths and is provided with an in-turning spaced flange 23 against which the rollers 21 are adapted to move. The rod 19 passes through the spaces between the inner edges of the flanges 23 and the bar 20, and the bar 20 with its attached parts is housed within the guide 22. The rod and the guide. together with the attached parts prevent the berths from swinging sidewise, but the rod is free to move vertically along the guide, and therefore the berth may retain a horizontal position notwithstanding the pitching or rocking of the vessel.

Levers 24 are pivoted at the head ends of the berths 5 and 12. The said levers are approximately T-shaped. Cables 25 and 26 connect the branches of the T ends of the levers 2 1 together. The cable 25 being located at one side of the fulcrum points of the levers, and the cable 26 being located at the opposite side of the said fulcrum points. A cable 27 is connected at one end with one of the branches of the lowermost lever 24 and is trained around a pulley 28 at the end of the lower berth 5. The said cable then extends toward the intermediate portion of the lower berth and passes around a pulley 29. The said cable then passes down between the arms -1- and is connected to the upper end of a weight 30 which is slidably mounted in the weight 6.

The weight 30 is provided at its lower end with several lugs 81. A grating 32 is in serted in the floor of the vessel, below the weight 30 with its upper surface approximately flush with the surface of the floor. This grating is provided with openings 33 which are adapted to be entered by the lugs 31' when the weight 30 is lowered. \Vhen the weight 30 is lowered, the weight 6 is held against swinging movement in the stand 1, by reason of the fact that the lugs 31 engage the openings 33 of the grating. Normally the weight 30 is held elevated above the floor, and consequently is free to swing with the weight 6. Then however, it is desired to positively fix the berths with relation to the floor of the vessel, one or the other of the levers 24: is swung by an occupant of one of the berths and the cable 27 moves longitudinally whereby the weight 1 weight pivoted thereon, a plurality of berths i supported by the weight above the stand, a second weight slidably mounted upon the first mentioned weight and engageable with a fixed object, a lever mechanism mounted upon the berths and operatively connected together and operatively connected with the second mentioned weight.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK BENDIX. lVitnesses:

I. B. POWELL, JAMES F. McCUn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

